Signaling device



May 22, 1934.

Filed May 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fral? a a 7 5 g. g

May 22, 1934. H. HANDLAN 1,959,671

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 7. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 cr /(W BY Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING DEVICE Alexander H. Handlan, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May '7, 1925, Serial No. 28,591

3 Claims. (-01. 177-329) This invention relates generally to signaling fications which come within the scope of the devices, and particularly to a signaling device of claims hereunto appended.

the type used on railroads for transmitting in Fig. I is a front elevation of a signaling detelligence and orders, which comprises a banvice constructed in accordance with my inven- 5 ner on which is mounted a plurality of lighttion. m7

producing elements from which light is caused Fig. II is a vertical section through the signalto emanate at predetermined times. ing device illustrated in Fig. I.

Prior to this invention the light-producing ele- Fig. III is a rear elevation of a fragment of ments of signaling devices of the type disclosed the banner and of a light-producing element of 10 herein were rigidly fixed to the banner with my improved signaling device showing the means as which they were associated, that is to say, said for adjusting said light-producing element rellight-producing elements were not capable of adative to said banner. justment relative to said banner and relative to Fig. IV is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal each other, and as a result of this it was not possection through the banner of my improved sigsible to aline said light-producing elements innaling device, showing alight-producing element 3c dividually. Because of the arrangement just dein plan and illustrating by means of dotted line scribed the signaling devices of the type menthe manner in which said light-producing ele tioned were more or less accurately alined by ment may be adjusted. merely alining the banner as a whole, and be- Fig. V is a view similar to Fig. IV, but showing cause the best results were not obtained with the light-producing element in side elevation. "35

a signaling device so alined, I have devised the In the drawings, A designates my improved signaling device disclosed in the present applisignaling device which comprises a banner 1 so cation, which includes means whereby each inshaped as to provide a background for all of the dividual light-producing element may be alined light-producing elements B of the device A, said independently of the associated light-producing banner 1 being preferably of dark color so that 0 elements and independently of the banner. I signal indications may be read at a great dis.-

have found that this arrangement results in a tance, even though said signals are given in daysignaling device which operates with greater eflight when the sky is bright. The ba n 1 is ficiency than the signaling devices formerly used, provided with connecting members 2 whereby due to the fact that each individual light-prosaid banner may be securedto a standard 3 by 85 ducing element is properly alined, so that the means of which it is supported. The banner 1 operator of an approaching train may pick up is provided with a plurality of apertures 4 through the signals at the proper moment and thus perwhich the light-producing elements B are ex haps prevent disastrous accidents. tended, said apertures preferably being arranged Also, my improved Signaling device includes in a circle adjacent to the outer edge of the ban- 9Q light-producing elements in the form of signal ner 1 (Fig.1). lanterns which are extended through the ban- The light-producing elements B of my imner instead of being Secu ed o th e e proved signaling device are preferably in the form of said banner as heretofore. This arrangement of signal lanterns and comprise each a housing is a distinct improvement over the prior a t 5 within which is arranged an incandescent elecfor the reason that when the light-producing trio lamp 6, a conoidal lens '7 and a hood '7. The elements extend throug the banner there is 110 housings 5 of the light-producing elements B likelihood that the signal indications will be 013- are preferably, though not necessarily, cylindrical soured by the ban er W n the observer s n in cross section, and by referring to Fig. III it 45 61086 Proximity to the al ng device, as would will be seen that said housings of the light-probe the case if the light-prod in e e Wer ducing elements are somewhat smaller in diamlocated on the rear face of he ba eter than the apertures 4 through which they With the foregoing and h r Objects n V extend, so that said housings may be moved withthe invention comprises the novel construction, in said apertures when the light-producing elecombination and arrangement of parts hereinments are being adjusted.

after more specifically described and illustrated in Referring now to the means for adjusting the the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown light-producing elements B of my improved dethe preferred embodiment of the invention. vice, 8 designates a plurality of plates, one of However, it is to be understood that the invenwhich is secured to each individual housing 5 55 tion comprehends changes, variations and modiand extends upwardly therefrom, said plates be- 11 ing each provided with a flange 9 at its lower edge which is curved to correspond to the curvature of the housings 5. 10 designates bolts or similar fastening devices, which are extended through the flanges 9 and through the walls of the housings 5 whereby the plates 8 are secured to said housings.

Formed through each individual plate 8 at the upper righthand corner thereof when said plates are viewed from the rear is an aperture through which a bolt 11 passes. These bolts 11 may be aptly described as pivot bolts, for the reason that the plates 8 with which said bolts 11 are associated are capable of moving about and relative to said bolts. By referring to Fig. II of the drawings, it will be seen that there is a space between each plate 8 and the adjacent face of the banner 1, and associated with the pivot bolts 11 are sleeves 12 which are located within these spaces and through which said bolts 11 are passed, whereby said spaces are maintained. The pivot bolts 11 pass through apertures in the banner 1, and each of said bolts is provided with a nut 13 which is located at the front face'of said banner, whereby the associated plate 8 may be drawn toward the banner 1 and thus be frictionally gripped between the heads of the bolts 11 and the adjacent ends of the sleeves 12. 14 designates lugs which are formed on the front face of the banner 1 adjacent to the apertures through which the pivot bolts 11 pass, said lugs having flat bottom faces which contact with flat faces of the nuts 13 associated with said pivot bolts whereby said nuts are prevented from turning when the pivot bolts are rotated. It is apparent from the foregoing that by rotating the pivot bolts 11 in one direction the plates 8 may be tightly gripped, and by rotating said bolts 11 in the opposite direction enough looseness may be provided between the inner faces of the heads of said bolts and the adjacent ends of the sleeves 12 to permit free movement of said plates relative to said bolts.

Associated with each individual plate 8 and located immediately adjacent to the pivot bolt 11 associated thercwith is a pair of bolts 15 and 16. The bolts 15 and 16 pass through apertures in the plates 8 but said bolts 15 and 16 do not pass through apertures in the banner 1 as do the .pivot bolts 11, but instead said bolts abut against imperforate portions of said banner, as shown in Figs. II, IV and V. The bolts 15 and 16 are provided with nuts 17, which are arranged in recesses 17 formed'in the front faces of the plates 8, said recesses being provided with fiat side faces adapted to contact with fiat faces of the nuts 17, whereby said nuts are prevented from rotating when said bolts 15 and 16 are rotated.

It is apparent from this arrangement that when the bolts 15 and 16 are rotated said bolts will be caused to move longitudinally of the apertures in the plates 8 through which they extend. due to the cooperation between the threads on said bolts and the threads within the nonrotatable nuts 17.

Associated with each of the plates 8 is a sighting tube 24, which comprises a hollow member extended through a tapering opening formed through an enlarged portion 25 of the associated plate 8. Each sighting tube 24 is provided with a plate 26 which is arranged within said sighting tube, and said plate is provided with a sight opening 27 of very small diameter, and each sighting tube is provided with crossed wires which aid the operator in alining the sighting tube with the desired spot. The banner 1 is cut away adjacent to the sighting tubes 24 as indicated by the reference character 28 (Fig. I), so that the view through said sighting tubes is unobstructed. The openings in the portions 25 through which the sighting tubes are extended are much larger in diameter than said sighting tubes, so that said tubes may be moved within said openings, and to effect this movement of said sighting tubes I employ a plurality of adjusting screws 24' which pass through threaded apertures in said portions 25 and contact with said sighting tubes. By utilizing the adjusting screws 24' I am able to arrange the sighting tubes in exact parallelism with the beam of light emanating from the associated light-producing element, hence when the sighting tubes are alined with a spot the beams of light will also be approximately alined therewith.

, 18 designates bolts, one of which is located at the lower righthand corner of each individual plate 8 when said plates are viewed from the rear; The bolts 18, like the pivot bolts 11, pass through apertures in the plates 8 and also through apertures in the banner 1, and said bolts are provided with nuts 19 at the front face of the ban-- her, which nuts are prevented from rotating by lugs 20 having flat faces which contact with flat faces of said nuts. Located at the upper lefthand corners of the plates 8 as viewed from the rear are bolts 21, which extend through apertures in said plates and through apertures in the bannor 1. The bolts 21 are provided with nuts 22 which are located at the front face of the banner 1, and said banner is provided with lugs 23 adjacent to the apertures through which said bolts 21 pass, which lugs contact with fiat faces of said nuts '22 to prevent rotation thereof.

It will be assumed that the light-producing elements B of my improved device are rigidly held in place relative to the banner 1, and that it is desired to adjust said light-producing elements to properly aline same. To accomplish the adjustment of a light-producing element the pivot bolt 11 associated therewith is rotated to cause the head thereof to move in a direction away from the banner 1. This movement of the bolt 11 will provide looseness between the rearmost end of the associated sleeve 12 and the innermost face of the head of the bolt 11. If it be assumed now that the adjustment of the light-producing element requires that the forward end of said lightproducing element be elevated as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. V, the'relatively short bolt 16 will be rotated in a direction to move its end away from the adjacent face of the banner 1, after which the bolt 18 will be rotated to cause the head thereof to move toward the banner 1. This movement of the bolt 18 will cause the lower end of the plate 8 associated with the light-producing element being adjusted to be moved toward the banner 1, as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. V, the bolt 11 acting as a pivot about which the light-producing element swings. After the light-producing element has been properly poids its

to cause its head to move away from the plate 8. The bolt 16 may then be rotated in a direction to cause its end to be forced firmly against the banner, after which a continued rotation of said bolt 16 will cause the lower end of the plate 8 to be moved away from the banner 1 and thus force the outer end of the light-producing element downwardly.

To adjust a light-producing element B of my improved signaling device horizontally, the bolt 21 is rotated in a direction to cause the head of said bolt to move the lefthand end of the plate 8 associated with said light-producing element toward the banner 1 after the end of the bolt 15 has been previously moved away from the banner 1. This movement of the bolt 21 will cause the light-producing element to be moved relative to the pivot bolt 11, as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. IV. Again, if the adjustment of the lightproducing element requires that the lefthand end of the plate 8 associated with said light-producing element be moved in a direction away from the banner 1, this may be accomplished by rotating the bolt 21 so as to cause its head to move away from the plate 8 and then rotating the bolt 15 with its end in contact with the banner in a direction to cause said lefthand end of said plate 8 to be moved rearwardly. After a light-producing element has been properly positioned the pivot bolt 11 associated therewith is screwed inwardly so as to cause the plate 8 to be firmly gripped between the head of said pivot bolt and the adjacent end of the associated sleeve 12, thus causing said light-producing element to be maintained in its adjusted position. When an operator is alining a light-producing element of my improved signaling device, he looks through the sighting tube associated with said light-producing element and manipulates the adjusting bolts until he is able to sight the spot on which it is desired to aline the light-producing element, the sight opening 2'7 in the plate 26 and the crossed wires within the sighting tube aiding him in alining the light-producing element on the desired spot. He then tightens the pivot bolt of the lightproducing element, and causes the ends of the relatively short bolts 15 and 16 to bear firmly against the banner. It is apparent that when a lightproducing element is locked in place as described, accidental movement of said light-producing element is prevented.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a banner, a signal lamp, a plate, means for mounting said signal lamp on said plate so that the axis of the beam projected by the signal lamp is normal to the plate, means pivotally spacing an end portion of the plate from the banner, bolts extended through the plate at points in horizontally and vertically spaced alinement with respect to said pivotal spacing means, said bolts being extended also through openings formed through the banner, nuts on said bolts on the side of the ban ner opposite to the side thereof at which said plate is secured so that the plate may be drawn to the banner by turning the nuts, screws extended through the plate at points located between said bolts and said pivotal spacing means, and nuts on said screws, said nuts being located between the plate and the banner and bearing against the plate, said screws extending to and bearing against the banner so that turning the screws will tend to move the plate from the banner.

2. A device of the class described comprising a banner, a signal lamp, a plate, means for mounting said signal lamp on said plate so that the axis of the beam projected by the signal lamp is normal to the plate, means pivotally spacing an end portion of the plate from the banner, bolts extended through the plate at points in horizontally and vertically spaced alinement with respect to said pivotal spacing means, said bolts being extended also through openings formed through the banner, nuts on said bolts on the side of the banner opposite to the side thereof at which said plate is secured so that the plate may be drawn to the banner by turning the nuts, screws extended through the plate at points located between said bolts and said pivotal spacing means, nuts on said screws, said nuts being located between the plate and the banner and bearing against the plate, and means to prevent the nuts from turning with the screws, said screws extending to and bearing against the banner so that turning the screws will tend to move the plate from the banner.

3. A device of the class described comprising a banner, a signal lamp, a rectangular plate, means for mounting said signal lamp on said plate so that the axis of the beam projected by the signal lamp is normal to the plate, means pivotally spacing one corner portion of the plate from the banner, a bolt extended through each of the corners of the plate which are adjacent to the first-mentioned corner and through said banner, nuts on said bolts on the side of the banner opposite to the side thereof at which said plate is secured so that the plate may be drawn to the banner by turning the nuts, a screw extending through a hole in the plate between each of the corner bolts and the pivoted corner, a nut on each screw, said nut being located between the plate and the banner and bearing against the plate, and means to prevent the nut from turning with the screw, said screw extending to and bearing against the banner so that turning the screw will tend to move the plate from the banner.

ALEXANDER H. HANDLAN. 

